''I am a Khasi, my wife is a Khasi and so my son too is a Khasi,'' Mr Kyndiah told reporters here on the sidelines of the Congress election manifesto.

The KHADC has stripped away Mr Kyndiah's son Waibha K Kyndiah Schedule tribe status on February four on grounds that it violated Sections 10 and 3(1) of the Khasi Social Custom of Lineage Act, 1997.

The decision came after an NGO, Ka Seng Tip Kur Tip Kha U Khasi, filed a complaint against him in the Council.

According to these sections, ''A Khasi shall cease to be Khasi, if he does not follow the Khasi matrilineal system.'' In addition to this, junior Kyndiah also violated Section 3(1) of the Act, which states that ''A person whose both the parents belong to Khasi community will have to have the surname of his mother.'' The Union Minister, however, said that Mr Shylla's decision was politically motivated.

The tussle between the Kyndiahs and sacked KHADC chief heated up after the Congress high command allowed junior Kyndiah to contest the March three Assembly polls from Nongkrem constituency, reserved for ST.

Mr Shylla had accused Mr Kyndiah of using his clout to get the party ticket for his son.

Meanwhile, the Court of Deputy Commissioner East Khasi Hills District B Dhar is consulting with legal experts before making any decision on February 22.

''I have received the reply of Waibha K Kyndiah and will consult with legal experts before making my decision,'' Mr Dhar said.